I thought races registered with the FRA were not allowed to charge an unattached levy.
I thought races registered with the FRA were not allowed to charge an unattached levy.
Cause tramps like us, baby we were born to run
It'd be good to get a definitive answer on this if someone knows. I'd rather not pay £2 more than I have to!
Over the last couple of years I have been trying on behalf of the FRA to make a distinction between Fell and Trail races in terms of the type of events accepted for the FRA Calendar. The FRA is now applying its definitions of what constitutes a Fell Race more stringently than has perhaps been the case in the past when it concentrated on the race meeting our minimum requirement of 100ft climb per mile. We now require new events to contain some "genuine fell terrain" as stated on the Organiser's Page of the FRA website http://www.fellrunner.org.uk/organisers.php However this is not an exact science and there will always be grey areas. I should stress however that we continue to provide Permits for events which have been accepted in the past.
When I turn down an event for the FRA Calendar I often comment that I consider the event would be better categorised as a Trail Race and suggest the organiser approaches the TRA for a Permit. Organisers of such races whose clubs are affiliated to England Athletics or one of the other Home Country bodies can alternatively apply for a Multiterrain License and associated UKA insurance from RunBritain the body which Licenses Road Races.
I call a touch of reverse sneering . I think the Beachy Head Marathon is open to walkers as well as runners but I guess it appears that there are fitter people there just because of the size of the field. In general I find that I can get in the top 15% of the finishers in a road race (more runners yes but more joggers too) whilst its more like the top 50% for a fell race. I've no idea one way or the other but I'm guessing if I entered the BHM I'd at least scrape into the top 50%
Last edited by Stolly; 08-12-2011 at 07:49 AM.
That's my take on it too, based on experience. Road/trail races seem to attract a far higher proportion of fun runners/people out for a bit of a jolly. Obviously the ones at the front are extremely fit, but you might finish 30th out of a 1000 in a 10k, and 50th out of 300 in a fell race, for example.
ps, still hoping for an answer to the 'unafilliated levy' question if anyone knows.
I do a lot of trail, road and fell races. My best positional finishes in races (obviously not including Parkruns) are as follows:
2nd/117 - Great Langdale Trail 20k (trail) - v. small/weak field (new race)
16th/118 - Round Hill (fell)
17th/189 - Laxton 10k (road)
17th/57 - Abbey Anniversary (fell)
18th/257 - Otley 10 (road)
20th/254 - Yorkshireman 1/2 (fell)
And my worst:
628th/677 - 3 Peaks (fell) - died completely
183rd/1936 - Worksop Half (road)
159th/1561 - Brass Monkey Half (road)
152nd/383 (+200in challenge) - Lakeland Trails Marathon (trail) - too hot!
110th/742 - Thirsk 10 (road)
So, it's not necessarily true that you're likely to finish higher up in a road race.
Last edited by fozzy; 07-12-2011 at 03:35 PM. Reason: added in totals in each race
And my worst placing compared to size of the field have all come in the West Yorks XC series! 105/221, 77/157 and 102/188
Think what I was saying is more applicable to proper fell runs....:thumbup:
This quote from Mr Chairman clarifies things (almost)
http://forum.fellrunner.org.uk/showt...187#post324187
Cause tramps like us, baby we were born to run